According to a recent survey, about 35% of people traveling internationally are aware of Wi-Fi calling. Seven people out of ten like the technology and either use it or want to start using it in the near future.

The data comes from Ericsson’s survey, which had the main purpose of assessing the impact of Wi-Fi calls on communication behavior. Among the surveyed points are “living with no signal”, “filling the cell phone signal coverage gaps” and “expectations on Wi-Fi calling”.

Ericsson surveyed over 5,000 people from Egypt, US, U.K, Spain and Brazil, who have traveled internationally during the last year. The smartphone users were both business and leisure travelers. Most US people were 25-34 years old, living in cities and owning Android-based smartphones.

Wi-Fi calls are usually provided by third party companies, allowing the consumers to make phone calls and send SMS even when the cellular data is inexistent, by making use of Wi-Fi networks.

Some of the carriers provide their own, built-in applications that allow Wi-Fi calls. In this case, consumers can use their own cell phone numbers as IDs, without needing to create a new account with a third party service. This simplifies the process, allowing the consumers to call and/or send text messages by using the default dialer and messaging applications.

The survey has highlighted the fact that 80% of people who use Wi-Fi calls see uninterrupted services as the main benefit. Two out of three people have claimed that due to Wi-Fi, they make more frequent voice calls while they are away.

The same survey has showed that close to 55% of the surveyed people experience inconsistent call quality every now and then, though. The Wi-Fi signal inconsistency has also been a problem for people carrying laptops with them, but these days there are various SMA antennas that help solve the problem for good, boosting the Wi-Fi signal strength. Often times, the antennas come with long RP-SMA cables, which can help travelers determine the best antenna position in the area.

We can only hope that a similar solution will be found for smartphones. Sure, we’ve already got cell phone signal boosters, but these devices aren’t always the best solution for people on the move. The good news is that with modern phones using larger and larger displays, the cases get bigger, and so do the cell phone antennas. Not only that, but the built-in signal amplifiers have higher and higher gains, so the future looks bright, at least when it comes to Wi-Fi calling.

Of course, many people prefer to use third party communication apps like WhatsApp, which brands itself as “simple, personal, real time messaging”. By allowing its users to have group chats, send photos & videos and sharing locations, many of the modern communication apps are way ahead of the pack.

Nevertheless, Wi-Fi calls offer quite a few advantages, especially when third party communication apps aren’t installed on a particular phone – a situation found with 50% of the surveyed people. Most of the Americans that were involved in the study have mentioned the extended coverage as one of the top Wi-Fi calling benefits. Another key benefit is the ability of saving money in roaming charges.

It’s interesting that about one in four people choose to shut down their phones completely while traveling abroad, and 67% plan their phone-based communication strategy in advance. In dense urban cities, the reported signal strength is much better outdoors, according to the survey.

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Bingham Memorial Hospital is nowadays a successful medical center, but it has not been like this at the beginning. Back in 1950 the hospital consisted in only 60 beds. The hospital was raised by citizens of Bingham County, using the money provided by the Hill Burton Act. The cost was estimated at $537,000.

The architects created the first plans in 1927; after 23 years of money gathering and planning, the hospital finally became a reality, as it opened its doors in 1950. During its first years of existence, only several doctors were hired. At present, the doctor team is a lot larger, consisting of over 100 doctors and specialists.

After 20 years an intensive care unit was opened as well; it was redesigned and modernized 10 years later. Twenty beds were added through the creation of the Living Center. The cost was then estimated at almost 5 million dollars. Architects and design specialists were then consulted; a new physical therapy department was added to the hospital, together with a new building that began to be used by specialists working for the nuclear medicine department and the laboratory.

In 1993 the emergency unit was renovated and two years after that the obstetrical area was redesigned. A nursing home was built close to the hospital in 1964 and it provided 50 beds for older people. The financial investment was of about 400,000 dollars this time.

In 1996 the Living Center was replaced by Bingham Memorial Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, which meant adding 70 new beds for the nursing home. In 1997 the nursing home was completely redesigned with an investment of about 3.5 million dollars. As a result of the investment, about 100,000 residents were able to benefit from the renovation and the professional care.

Louis Kraml became BMH’s CEO in 1999. Prior to that, he managed Hazel Hawkins, a hospital in California, for 9 years. More information about Mr. Kraml can be found on YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter. Louis Kraml regularly posts medical articles on his personal website and on Bingham Memorial Hospital’s website. The board of directors also includes Alice Cannon – Chairman, Dr. Clark Allen – Vice Chairman, Wallace Driscoll – Treasurer, Joe Cannon – Secretary and Dr. Tom Call – Chief of Medical Staff.

In 2001 all the rooms used by patients were renovated, as well as the cafeteria and the corridors; in addition to that, a new lobby was added for the new patient registration. A rural clinic was also opened in 2001, as the hospital began to pay an even greater attention to the needs of the community it has been serving for so long.

In 2004 the hospital was granted Critical Access designation and two years later a dialysis center was opened. In 2007 Bingham Birthing Center was opened. Today Bingham Memorial Hospital and Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center are non tax supported facilities.

Patients that come to Bingham Memorial Hospital can be treated in the 1st choice urgent care unit, at the Bingham Cardiology Clinic, Bingham Dermatology Center, at Bingham Diabetes Resource Center, at Bingham Memorial Family Medicine clinic.

In the near future, Bingham Memorial will be hosting Gastric Banding Seminars. Several educational classes are organized under the management of Bingham Memorial Hospital. Among them there are Anger Management classes, Anger Management for kids and teens, College Massage therapy, Consequence of alcohol seminars, CPR in Spanish, Coping with loss as well as Divorce and Single Parenting.

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1. As people are continuously pursuing their happiness, it should surprise no one that several studies are conducted every year on this subject. In a recent such study in Australia, the specialists have concluded that a happy family is a key to a real happiness.

The results of the study have been published in the Journal of Happiness Studies. The people that have been interviewed were asked to imagine themselves being 85 years old, and to create a list with the most important 30 things they would consider to be good, important and necessary for a happy life. The interviewed people responded that gaining wisdom and having a moral life would belong to the top ten items in the list. These two things were considered to be more important than being treated with respect due to the age, for example.

2. It is so good to learn from the animals and a proof of that is the decision that Africa has made in this direction. Learning from the kangaroo mother that cares for her baby a lot, mothers on this continent are encouraged to have skin to skin contact with their preterm babies, in order to curb the high mortality rates that many countries have. Thus, mothers and their babies are encouraged to have skin contact; this way babies will have the chance to spend time not only in the incubator, but also close to their mothers’ heart.

3. Teens are positively influence by the good sleep they have during night. The study has demonstrated once again how vital sleep is for the general well being of the human body. First of all, sleep reduces stress and makes teenagers more productive. Harvard scientists have showed a year ago that sleep deprivation is strictly related to money loss when it comes to companies and businesses, due to the fact that the tired, sleep deprived employees are less productive. Persons that sleep a sufficient amount of hours smoke less, drink less alcohol, are sharper, healthier and calmer. Also, people that practice sports have better performances when they sleep enough.

4. Belgian scientists have demonstrated that due to the ban of smoking, fewer preterm births take place. In this country smoking is forbidden in the public places, and a strong link has been established between this decision and the small number of preterm births. The Belgian scientists have concluded that banning smoking was a decision that had a positive impact for the mothers.

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Louis Kraml is the administrator of Bingham Memorial Hospital, a critical access hospital in Blackfoot, Idaho. The hospital management team led by Mr. Kraml is focused on providing high quality medical services to people in the south east Idaho region.

Economic Impact Study

In January of 2012, the hospital commissioned an independent study to determine the economic impact that the hospital has in the surrounding area: Bingham, Bonneville and Bannock counties. Dr. Richard Gardner, Ph.D. of Boot Strap Solutions coordinated the study in collaboration with Thomas Harris, Ph.D. at the University of Nevada – Reno.

Louis Kraml

The study concluded that Bingham Memorial Hospital, administered by Mr. Kraml, brought more than $550 million to the region between 1999 and 2011. “We are proud of the services and employment Bingham Memorial Hospital is able to offer the residents of east Idaho,” said Mr. Kraml. “Our world-class physicians, state-of-the-art facilities and devoted team at Bingham allow us to deliver outstanding healthcare and services. I am grateful the hospital is a strong economic driver providing benefits to our local counties during these tough economic times.”

The study demonstrated that in 2011 alone, Bingham Memorial Hospital provided 1,742 jobs and brought more than $89 million to the region. Bingham Memorial Hospital is the fifth largest employer in the area of Bingham County, and its number of employees has grown in the past ten years from 274 to over 500. More than 150 providers contract with Bingham Memorial with more than thirty physicians on staff.

Additionally, Bingham Memorial has paid nearly $3 million to Bingham County since 2007, when it became a 501(c)3 organization.

The results of this study also demonstrated the impact of reinvesting the revenues into the facility. Being locally owned, Bingham Memorial Hospital has managed to leave a remarkable, positive footprint, influencing the lives of many for the better.

Diabetic Foot Screenings Clinic

In order to better serve the community, Mr. Kraml recently announced the opening of a new Diabetic Foot Screenings Clinic at Bingham Memorial Hospital. The clinic is dedicated to improving foot health for patients diagnosed with diabetes. The clinic began seeing patients in January 2013 with a goal of helping people monitor their foot health and avoid extreme or costly procedures. Diabetes is responsible for 80% of non-traumatic foot amputations every year, with the number of diagnoses on the rise over the last decade.

Bingham Memorial Hospital physicians recommend diabetic patients monitor their foot health with the same rigor they monitor blood sugar and eye health. Screenings include an initial appointment where the physician evaluates the patient’s foot health and then creates a plan to monitor for conditions that could arise including neuropathy, foot ulcers, peripheral vascular disease and calluses.

Shriner’s Orthopedic Screening Clinic

Twice a year, Bingham Memorial provides free orthopedic screenings for children in partnership with Shriner’s Hospital. Children that qualify are able to receive treatment at no cost through Shriner’s Salt Lake City facility.

Mr. Kraml said, “As a critical access hospital, our purpose is to help provide services that residents would not otherwise be able to receive. Many of the children that were screened at the clinic would not have had access to appropriate care otherwise. We are so pleased to partner with Shriners each year in bringing this free screening clinic to the families of east Idaho.”

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The National Institutes of Health has declared that some kids that were formerly accurately diagnosed with autism, once they grow older, lose the symptoms. These results come after a study that has been done in a small group of school aged kids. The kids were given this diagnostic several years ago, and now they are behaving just like normal kids. The study does not provide any details regarding the percentage of kids which will fully recover over the years, but offers great hope for those that have family members that were diagnosed with autism.

The Duchenne muscular dystrophy can be treated with genes, and scientists at the University of Missouri have managed to improve the technique. The dystrophy occurs when the healthy muscle tissue is replaced by fibrous, bony and fatty tissue, and thus ends up losing its function. It is a disease that affects mainly boys: their body stops producing dystrophin, which is a protein that helps the muscle cells survive and function well.

When this protein is lacking, a chain reaction starts and in the end the patient dies. The dystrophin is the largest gene in the human genome, and scientists have managed to create a new micro-dystrophin gene, which did wonders in dogs that suffered from the disease. The dogs had a diminished inflammation and even improved the strength of their muscles. If the studies continue to be as positive as this one, the human testing phase will probably be approved within the following months.

New genetically engineered bacteria will significantly improve the efficacy of vaccines for flu, cholera and HPV. The new generations of vaccines will address diverse pathogens at the same time.

Due to the efforts and serious work of a group of scientists from the University of Queensland and the Department of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, chicken meat and several other foods will be screened for bacteria a lot faster and more effectively than before. The statistics show that a number of over 5. 4 million cases of food-borne gastroenteritis happen in Australia every year. Many of the cases are caused by two of the bacteria that will now be easily and more rapidly detected.

Strawberries and blueberries are demonstrated to be very effective for women that take up to three or more servings per week, drastically reducing the risk of heart attack. This is the conclusion of “Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association”. It is well known that blueberries and strawberries contain flavonoids, which can also be found in grapes, wine, blackberries, eggplant and that have the property of enlarging the arteries, counter the buildup of plaque and provide several other cardiovascular benefits.

Human hearts continue to create new cells even after birth. A team of scientist in Boston Children’s Hospital has analyzed the hearts of several persons of all ages, and this is the conclusion they have come to. The regeneration process is very ample during infancy, and then disappears after adolescence.

Active video games are proved to be very helpful to kids living in big cities, which have to face the threat of obesity in large numbers. In a recent study, 104 kids were asked to play some of their favorite active games. During these games, the kids in the third, fourth and fifth grade managed to be active enough to achieve the recommended levels of activity.

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Two schools in New Jersey have recently complained that some of their students suffered side effects after drinking Marley’s Mellow Mood beverages. The drinks are produced by the Metro-Detroit based manufacturer. The company was built together with Bob Marley’s family, in an attempt to pay homage to their father.

The drinks are promoted as healthy and natural, containing melatonin, rose hips and valarian root. The combination is said to relax and relieve anxiety. Students that have drunk these beverages have complained of lethargy, headaches, nausea. The company’s representative declared that the company is sorry for the problems that have appeared, explaining that the drink is not for children but for adults only. Despite this in many stores in the US the beverages are sold with no limitation to the age of the clients.

The city of Detroit is said to have 40% of its surface unused or underused. For this reason the idea of having more dog parks does not seem like a SF project. Numerous citizens have declared they are afraid to walk their dog even if they are on leash as their neighborhoods are not safe enough. Things would completely change if more dog parks would be created so that dog owners could walk there their pets.

As the firefighters in Detroit were lacking some of their essentials, among them toilet paper, the call for support was welcomed by business men and simple locals. These days a truck filled with 70,000 rolls of toilet paper coming from Procter and Gamble was send to them. The same poor situation is to be found with some of the police stations in the city. It is not the only problem the firefighters had to face. Sometime ago they had to gather money and rent a toilet because the plumbing was not functional in their bathroom.

Recent statistics say that close to 50% of the kids in Detroit live in poverty and 50% of the adults living there are illiterate. The city which was once one of the greatest in the US has declined and is now deserted, a land of lawlessness and poverty. The same statistics say that the population has reached a historical minimum of 700,000 inhabitants. Detroit was once inhabited by more than 2 million people. Only 25% of the teenagers manage to finish high school education and numerous gangs control diverse areas of the city. 30,000 houses are vacant or in ruin in the former great city. In the better days 5,000 policemen were fighting to defend law and order. Now only 3,000 of them still do this more and more dangerous job. As a result normal families have started to buy guns in larger and larger numbers.